Is it possible to be a spiritual atheist? - Think Atheist2015-03-03T22:51:30Zhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/is-it-possible-to-be-a-spiritual-atheist?feed=yes&xn_auth=no1) Atheism is the absence of…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-16:1982180:Comment:11416972012-06-16T19:25:40.604ZDale Headleyhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/DaleHeadley
<p>1) Atheism is the absence of belief in any kind of deity.</p>
<p>2) "Spiritual" in the sense that you describe it is "bull%&amp;$#."</p>
<p>3) No</p>
<p>4) No. And what qualifies a person for being called a "spiritual atheist" is a deep-seated fear/reluctance to completely abandon the concept of a Supreme Deity of some kind. As far as I'm concerned, the term "spiritual atheist" is an oxymoron.</p>
<p>1) Atheism is the absence of belief in any kind of deity.</p>
<p>2) "Spiritual" in the sense that you describe it is "bull%&amp;$#."</p>
<p>3) No</p>
<p>4) No. And what qualifies a person for being called a "spiritual atheist" is a deep-seated fear/reluctance to completely abandon the concept of a Supreme Deity of some kind. As far as I'm concerned, the term "spiritual atheist" is an oxymoron.</p> Dear Folks:
I wonder how many…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-16:1982180:Comment:11416292012-06-16T14:36:32.768ZJames Coxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/JamesCox
<p>Dear Folks:</p>
<p>I wonder how many things I have 'tabled' due to lack of good evidence or the tools to further explore. Oh I should include insufficient knowledge and interest also as a disability..;o(.</p>
<p>If Michael would like to pursue a deep study of this, I expect there could be had some $$$ from crowd funding operations. Also there are many towns that have 'Meetup' groups that attempt to study the paranormal. This might be better than seeing a scary movie on a Saturday…</p>
<p>Dear Folks:</p>
<p>I wonder how many things I have 'tabled' due to lack of good evidence or the tools to further explore. Oh I should include insufficient knowledge and interest also as a disability..;o(.</p>
<p>If Michael would like to pursue a deep study of this, I expect there could be had some $$$ from crowd funding operations. Also there are many towns that have 'Meetup' groups that attempt to study the paranormal. This might be better than seeing a scary movie on a Saturday afternoon/evening! I have even considered joining a Meetup group for this purpose.</p>
<p>Michael don't lose heart, walk your own path...</p>
<p> </p> Feelings aren't facts. If the…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-16:1982180:Comment:11415322012-06-16T13:04:42.872ZUnseenhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Unseen
<p>Feelings aren't facts. If they were, then contradictory feelings would be facts as well. Contradictions are nonsense.</p>
<p>Feelings aren't facts. If they were, then contradictory feelings would be facts as well. Contradictions are nonsense.</p> I think a lot of people tend…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-16:1982180:Comment:11415972012-06-16T06:08:13.729ZPope Beaniehttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/PaulRyan
<blockquote><p><span>I think a lot of people tend to attribute some sort of meaning to their existence/some cognitive awareness that is larger than themselves when they talk about being spiritual.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm in this camp, metaphorically. The connection I have with people feels real in the sense that it's in my heart. (Another metaphor, if you will.) Intellectually I know the connection's not physical or supernatural. I think it's probably instinctive to feel…</p>
<blockquote><p><span>I think a lot of people tend to attribute some sort of meaning to their existence/some cognitive awareness that is larger than themselves when they talk about being spiritual.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm in this camp, metaphorically. The connection I have with people feels real in the sense that it's in my heart. (Another metaphor, if you will.) Intellectually I know the connection's not physical or supernatural. I think it's probably instinctive to feel it.</p>
<p>Other people feel more of this connection than I do, especially in church.</p>
<p>Whenever I hear a laugh track, I feel like they're trying to manipulate me by taking advantage of people's natural feeling of connection when they're laughing together. Does anyone else feel as I do that the reason we laugh is because it's a way for us to communicate a connection with each other? It's built into us by nature. Even babies laugh and smile naturally, before they learn about intentional communication. </p>
<p>I'm feeling more strongly about this all the time, because I see so much atheistic revolt against the concept of spirituality. I don't blame atheists for revolting, because most people do think it's <em>supernatural</em>, which is worthwhile for us to argue against. But see, I think the roots and causes of the feelings of spirituality are real and natural, and <strong>not</strong> supernatural.</p> Always consider these three f…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-14:1982180:Comment:11399762012-06-14T03:56:42.631ZDoug Reardonhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/DougReardon
<p>Always consider these three facts:</p>
<p>1. People misperceive/misinterpret.</p>
<p>2. People hallucinate.</p>
<p>3. People lie. </p>
<p>Always consider these three facts:</p>
<p>1. People misperceive/misinterpret.</p>
<p>2. People hallucinate.</p>
<p>3. People lie. </p> @Amy
Are you seriously sugges…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-10:1982180:Comment:11378972012-06-10T01:19:49.007ZHeather Spoonheimhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/HeatherSpoonheim
<p>@Amy</p>
<p>Are you seriously suggesting that intelligent, rational people should spend time considering the potential authenticity of haunted houses featured on the SciFi network?</p>
<p>@Amy</p>
<p>Are you seriously suggesting that intelligent, rational people should spend time considering the potential authenticity of haunted houses featured on the SciFi network?</p> @Amy L. Cook
Be careful not t…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-09:1982180:Comment:11372632012-06-09T18:11:55.063ZUnseenhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Unseen
<p>@Amy L. Cook</p>
<p><em><strong>Be careful not to close your mind too tightly.</strong></em></p>
<p>When you have no facts to support your view, it's often "You have a closed mind."</p>
<p>I assure you, I have changed my mind many many times about many many things. Even recently.</p>
<p>The problem with spiritual theses is that they are meaningless. Why are they meaningless? Because there is no proof even possible of spiritual existence. I challenge you to a very simple task: formulate a…</p>
<p>@Amy L. Cook</p>
<p><em><strong>Be careful not to close your mind too tightly.</strong></em></p>
<p>When you have no facts to support your view, it's often "You have a closed mind."</p>
<p>I assure you, I have changed my mind many many times about many many things. Even recently.</p>
<p>The problem with spiritual theses is that they are meaningless. Why are they meaningless? Because there is no proof even possible of spiritual existence. I challenge you to a very simple task: formulate a syllogism with premises that are verifiable as fact, leading to the conclusion that "spirits exist." That leaves us with scientific explanations based on physics.</p>
<p>To turn it around, propositions which are unfalsifiable are meaningless. If you can't say what would prove the falsity of my assertion that there's an invisible incorporeal squirrel sitting on Michelle Obama's shoulder at all times, then what substance could there be to the assertion in the first place. Asserting that something is a spirit is exactly the same. </p> Be careful not to close your…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-09:1982180:Comment:11376002012-06-09T17:49:54.107ZAmy L. Cookhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/AmyLCook
<p>Be careful not to close your mind too tightly.</p>
<p>Be careful not to close your mind too tightly.</p> @Michael
Unseen your logic es…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-08:1982180:Comment:11368392012-06-08T03:13:26.007ZUnseenhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Unseen
<p>@Michael</p>
<p><em><strong>Unseen your logic escapes me. "Oh this is the SciFi channel, therefore everything on it is SciFi."</strong></em></p>
<p>You can't actually quote me saying that or even anything that means the same thing. But go ahead and try.</p>
<p>What I did say is that it's an entertainment channel. It does have the word "Fi" in its name which indicates its general orientation.</p>
<p>For a welcome change of pace, instead of doing what all those dopey pseudo-documentaries do by…</p>
<p>@Michael</p>
<p><em><strong>Unseen your logic escapes me. "Oh this is the SciFi channel, therefore everything on it is SciFi."</strong></em></p>
<p>You can't actually quote me saying that or even anything that means the same thing. But go ahead and try.</p>
<p>What I did say is that it's an entertainment channel. It does have the word "Fi" in its name which indicates its general orientation.</p>
<p>For a welcome change of pace, instead of doing what all those dopey pseudo-documentaries do by presenting something seemingly mysterious or unexplained and then asking a question like "Could this be evidence of ghosts?" or "Could it be that flying saucer people taught the Mayans astronomy?," why not actually try to ANSWER a question or present a FACT supported by evidence?</p>
<p>Come back instead with an answer and not a conjecture. In the meantime, not to have point out your constant know-nothingness would be a welcome relief on a board devoted to intellectual hard-headedness.</p>
<p>And you never did tell me what's your take on Leprechauns. And hey, while you're at it, how about faeries, trolls, and the wendigo?</p> Unseen your logic escapes me.…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2012-06-08:1982180:Comment:11368202012-06-08T02:08:38.237ZMichaelhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Michael456
<p>Unseen your logic escapes me. "Oh this is the SciFi channel, therefore everything on it is SciFi." </p>
<p>Unseen your logic escapes me. "Oh this is the SciFi channel, therefore everything on it is SciFi." </p>